Rubber heel



April 22, 1924. 1,491,550

- G. ROSS RUBBER HE EL Filed March 16. 1922 lav-enter:

G. R088 EJ p w/Qrwwm Attorne Fatented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE ROSS, OF LO'RA'IN, OjHIO.

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Application filed March 16, 1922. Serial No. 544,337.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Ross,a citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Lorain'a'nd State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Heels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of-r'ubber heels, and has for its object to provide a heel which embodies novel features of construction whereby it will wear in a more uniform manner than theordin'ary rubber heel and will not run down or wear unevenly at oneside or one end.

Further objects of the invention are Lu provide a rubber heel of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily handled and fitted to a shoe in the usual manner, and which will have a tendency to wear evenly over the entire bottom surface instead of permitting the wear to be concen trated at one end or side of the heel.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a rubber heel which is constructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate more clearly the details of construction.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the heel, a portion thereof being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the heel on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional. view through the heel on the'line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the U shaped metal strip which is embedded in the rubber of the heel.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one of many possible embodiments of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of the heel which is formed of some'suitable resilient material such as rubher, being shaped in the conventional manner so that it can be readily fitted to the heel of a shoe. The lower wearingface of the heel is preferably slightly convex, as is indicated more clearlyby Figures 3 and hand in mak ing the heels any appropriate design or features of ornamentation may be molded or formed into the rubber. The upper face of the rubber heel is providedwith-a centrally disposed recess, which is substantially U shaped in form, having the sameconfigura tion as the heel itself. This upper face of the heel is fitted against the shoe when the heel is applied in position, and it is preferred to provide a support between the base of the recess 2 and the shoe. For this purpose an upstanding projection 3 is provided at the center of the recess, and in order that the projection may be as resilient as possible and increase the cushioning effect of the heel, it is preferably shaped in a manner analogous to that shown in the drawing. The shape is one in which there are in effect a series of webs radiating from a common center and the rubber material of the projection is distributed so that the width of the cross section is not great at any point. The rubber is thus enabled to be compressed readily under pressure since there is ample clearance space for the lateral bulging or distortioning of the rubber. The resiliency and cushion ing properties of the heel are thus enhanced by making the central projection 01' support in this form.

The heel is provided with the usual nail receiving openings l, which are arranged in a peripheral row, and the usual small plates 5 are embedded in the rubber body of the heel so that they will engage the heads of the nails and prevent the nails from pulling through the heel. This arrangement of the nail receiving openings and plates 5 is of the conventional and well known construction and no claim to novelty is based thereon.

In order to prevent the heel from wearing unevenly a U shaped strip 6 is embedded therein and extends around the sides and curved end thereof. The strip is formed of flat metal with the width thereof extending transversely of the heel, as indicated quite clearly by Figures 3 and 4:. The strip may extend between the edge of the heel and the nail receiving openings 4, as illustrated, or

receiving openings. The Width of the strip is slightly less than the thickness of the heel and the upper edge of the strip is slightly spaced from the top of the heel While the lower edge thereof is spaced, preferably a somewhat greater amount, from the bottom The strip is provided atinterof the heel. vals with openings 7 through which the rubher passes so that the rubber is firmly bonded to the strip and, if desired, the strip may be provided with openings 8 to receive and interlock with edge portions of the nail engaging plates 5i The parts are thus all firmly bonded together so that a homogeneous structure is obtained. The ends of the U shaped strip 6 are extended inwardly, as indicated at 6", and are positioned at the corner portions of the heel.

The U shaped strip 6 is completely embedded in the rubber of the heel when the heel 'is first formed, and is invisible when the heel is applied'to the shoe. Owing to the position of the strip, howeverfit will be obvious that if the lower surface of the heel starts to Wear unevenly at one edge of the heel the U shaped strip will be exposed at that point and will retard or prevent further wear at that particular place on the heel. any one place upon the heel is thus prevented, with the result that the heel is caused to wear uniformly on all sides.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: c

GEORGE ROSS.

Any tendency for excessive wear at 

